Rafael Nadal has advanced to the final of the Mexican Open, beating fellow Spaniard Nicolas Almagro 7-5 6-4 in a clay-court slugfest.
Second seed Nadal, who is on the comeback trail after missing seven months due to a knee injury, will face another Spaniard, three-times defending champion and top seed David Ferrer, in the final.
Ferrer defeated Italy's Fabio Fognini 6-3 6-7 6-1 in the other semi-final.